Before we hit the GO-button on anything (presentation, speech, workshop, or even a blog post), we get nervous. And I'm good with it. I want a career and a life that makes me feel nervous on a regular basis. The nerves remind me that I'm alive, and that I give a shit. I'm not hoping that they go away, yet still, they must me managed.

This is where having a partner comes in handy. We have the ability to offer each other perspective and encouragement before we step into the arena together. And after years of doing this, we've gotten pretty good at knowing what the other needs to show up and bring his best. There are a few key phrases that we almost always come back to - and they are all about shifting the focus off of us and onto our audience. We say things like:

"What do these people need to hear right now?"
"Resist the urge to be profound."
"Just tell the truth."

and my all-time favorite...

"We'd rather be useful than brilliant"

It's not exactly the stuff you see in Hollywood locker room scenes, but it works, and here's why.

1) It reminds us that we are there to serve. Our job is not to be applauded or validated, it is to provide valuable and applicable insight to leaders and teams that need our guidance.

2) It reminds us that we have everything we need. We don't need to reach for the perfect metaphor or catchy phrase. We've done the work. We know what we're talking about.

3) It reminds us to be US. Audiences find trust at the intersection of credibility and relatability. We're both credible and relatable, without trying too hard. They don't need us to be clever or cute (or the most decorated Special Operators on the planet). They just need us to be sincere.

This quote from C.S. Lewis is one that we live by at Applied Leadership Partners. It gives us permission to be patient, to be humble, to chop the wood and trust the process. If you're starting a new business, new to a big role, or launching a creative project - I think it will help you too.